• NIB@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    I dont understand why Americans are horny for mandatory voting. Voting is mandatory in Greece, it makes no difference. It is theoretically illegal to not vote but are you going to imprison people for not voting? So it isnt enforced, at all.

    No one is voting because it is mandatory. Greece has 60% participation.

    • Quokka@quokk.au
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      8 months ago

      Does your legal system work on imprisonment or nothing at all? Sounds very extreme.

      Here it’s a small fine, but it’s also a day off and takes like 20 mins to go do plus you can get a delicious sausage. So it’s a no brainer that people go vote.

      Greece is a pretty failed state from what I’ve seen, wouldn’t read too much into what they don’t do.

      As for why compulsory voting, it helps moderate extremism and represents most of society as a whole.

      • spujb@lemmy.cafe
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        8 months ago

        it helps moderate extremism and represents most of society as a whole.

        thoughts on Selb and Lachat, 2009?:

        In particular, the analyses suggest that CV compels a substantial share of uninterested and less knowledgeable voters to the polls. These voters, in turn, cast votes that are clearly less consistent with their own political preferences than those of the more informed and motivated voluntary voters. Claims that CV promotes equal representation of political interests are therefore questionable.